Today's Family & Kids Activities in Rockland-Aug 19

August 19, 2013
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Whatever you're looking to do with your family and kids-libraries, festivals, museums, arts & crafts-you'll find it in today's list of fun and educational activities for families and kids in Rockland. Check out the NY Metro Parents' calendar for upcoming events!

Shakespeare's masterpiece about an aging king's attempt to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. Deceived by misplaced affection and flattery, the king makes a series of terrible decisions, tearing his family and kingdom apart, and is pushed to the brink of madness. This sweeping story is heartbreaking, as it explores the sense of family and fatherhood in the midst of political ambition and intrigue. Don't miss the king's journey from madness to redemption in what has been called one of greatest stories in Western literature. Boscobel's grounds open for picnicking two hours before the show; bring your own food or enjoy prepared foods available for purchase on site. For information or to purchase tickets, visit hvshakespeare.org.

The Three Musketeers by Ken Ludwig; adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Directed by Christopher V. Edwards.
"It's all for one and one for all" in this hilarious, fast-paced
adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' timeless story. A swashbuckling romp, it's a tale of heroism, treachery, and honor. Follow the adventures of D'Artagnan as he joins forces with the famous musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, in their struggle to defend the Queen of France. The heroes will keep you on the edge of your seats with their daring acts and narrow escapes as they foil a spectacular cast of villains. A blast for the whole family!
Boscobel's grounds open for picnicking two hours before the show; bring your own food or enjoy prepared foods available for purchase on site. For information or to purchase tickets, visit hvshakespeare.org.

Theatricality reigns as a troupe of eight traveling players present Shakespeare's fable of the spunky, lovesick Helena and her pursuit of the fickle Bertram, a callow young man who prefers war and womanizing to romance and responsibility. Expect comedy, theatrical surprises, music, adventure, and rapid-fire onstage character changes in this delightful tale of a young woman triumphing over adversities.
Boscobel's grounds open for picnicking two hours before the show; bring your own food or enjoy prepared foods available for purchase on site. For information or to purchase tickets, visit hvshakespeare.org.

Get ready to zoom, spin, splash, swing, and soar your way through acres of amusement park rides from the cooling log flume, to the famous Dragon Coaster, and all your other favorites!
Admission Prices:
- Starting Friday, May 24: $30 unlimited rides; $20 Junior (under 48") Spectator admission (no rides) is free for Westchester County residents and $10 for non-residents.
Season Passes:
- $95 for unlimited rides all season, with a $15 discount for Westchester residents.
- $35 for spectator admission all season (no rides), for non-residents of Westchester County.
Acceptable proof of Westchester residency is a Westchester County Park Pass; New York State driver's license or non-driver ID; or a photo ID or report card from a Westchester County school.
For the season schedule go to ryeplayland.org or call the park at 914-813-7000. Use the website link to join the Playland E-Club and receive valuable discounts all season long.

The colorful characters of Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist" come brilliantly to life in Victorian London. This beloved musical tells the tale of the orphan boy who is swept into a band of pickpockets: the Artful Dodger, the menacing Bill Sikes, and the kind-hearted Nancy, all led by the wily Fagin. The sensational, Tony award-winning score is full of Lionel Bart's irresistible songs including "Food Glorious Food,", "Consider Yourself," "You've Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two," "I'd Do Anything," "Oom Pah Pah," "As Long As He Needs Me," and many more. Show runs through September 1, 2013. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday matinees including lunch; Thursday, Friday Saturday, and Sunday Evenings including dinner.

The new attraction will include a ride through the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods with more than two-dozen animatronic dinosaurs up to 40 feet long which move, snarl, roar, and spit.
In anticipation of the new exhibit, the Bronx Zoo is offering New Yorkers a chance to vote for their favorite dinosaur species at bronxzoo.com/dino and win tickets to see the dinosaurs. Included in the vote: long-necked Brachiosaurus, the intimidating Tyrannosaurus rex, the gator-like Baryonyx, the massive Triceratops, or the flighted Quetzalcoatlus. Exclusive Bronx Zoo Dinosaur Safari stickers that can be used with a safari field guide will be given to those who vote.
Dinosaur Safari will include a ride through a two-acre area of the zoo, and will highlight the physical or behavioral adaptations many share with species that are alive today.
This limited engagement will run from Saturday, May 25 through Sunday, September 8, and will be included in the Total Experience Ticket.
A 20% discount is offered with online purchases for Monday and Tuesday visits. Tickets can be purchased in advance at bronxzoo.com/dino.

Rod Benders Car Club of New York hosts this popular, summertime event each Wednesday evening through September 11. Check out the cool cars as well as vendors, food, entertainment, raffles, and more. Evenings are family-friendly and pets are welcome.

Come in costume - or not - to this theatrical interpretation of a 16th Century fair. Kids can enjoy lots of circus-type performances including juggling, tight rope walking, trapeze acts, a hilarious father and son knife throwing act, and silly stage shows. Fair-goers can also try their hand at a variety of carnival-type games, try human-powered amusements (think: push, pull, spin), ride a camel, pedal a boat, get their face painted, and more. Special highlights include a giant chess match on the lawn featuring human "pieces" and of course, a jousting match on horseback. Discount tickets available online. Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day through September 22. Rain or shine.

Bring your family for a living history lesson and learn about the role Stony Point played in the American Revolution. Check out an 18th century Soldier's Camp Saturdays 10am-4pm and Sundays 12-4pm. See an artillery drill featuring the battlefield's 6-pounder cannon Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Battlefield tours are held Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. All events are weather and staffing permitting. Call before your visit to confirm.

Kykuit, the six-story stone house and rolling hilltop estate that served as home to four generations of Rockefellers, is open to visitors beginning Saturday, May 4, through Sunday, Sep. 30, and Nov. 1-11. Open daily Oct 1-31. Kykuit's modern and classical art collection, architecture, and expansive gardens are consistently rated the top attraction in the lower Hudson Valley, and draw tens of thousands of visitors annually. Kykuit, which means "lookout" in Dutch, includes a six-story stone house, multiple terraced gardens, art galleries, outdoor classical and modern sculpture, and commanding Hudson River views. Its hilltop location overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades is 500 feet above sea level. Visitors to Kykuit learn the story of the Rockefellers, beginning with John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, whose business acumen made him the richest man in America in his day. He later became the country's first great philanthropist. By his death in 1937, he had given away more than half his fortune through various philanthropic programs. Visitors can choose from four tours: Classic, Grand, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights. The Classic, ideal for first-time visitors, is a shorter experience than the comprehensive, three-hour Grand. Besides the mansion, both of these tours include time in Kykuit's art galleries, gardens, and Coach Barn, with its collection of horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and equestrian equipment. The 90-minute Timesaver is ideal for those on tighter schedules, while Selected Highlights maximizes time in the gardens. Visitors can buy tickets online in advance, choosing the exact tour, time, and date they want to visit. Tickets are on sale at hudsonvalley.org. Historic Hudson Valley recommends advanced ticket buying, particularly for weekend tours, which fill up quickly. Besides online, tickets may be purchased by calling 914-631-8200 (service charge additional) or at the Kykuit Visitor Center at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow. All tours start at the Kykuit Visitor Center; doors open at 9am.

This weekly market features 35 vendors with organic and traditional produce, artisan breads and cheeses, local honey, homemade pastas and sauces, local wine, organic hummus and prepared foods, gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegar, homemade jams, spices, fresh fish, and more. Parents can shop while their kids enjoy music, crafts, and other special events. Check out the web site for details of weekly highlights. Sundays through November 24.

Families are invited to learn about nature in a fun interactive way. Each guidebook sends participants looking for clues along nature center trails, which range from casual to challenging. Saturdays and Sundays through November.

The Nyack Art Collective teams up local artists and businesses for a special events to be held the first friday of each month through the end of the year. Beginning July 5, and each First Friday of the month, downtown Nyack will feature art openings, interactive "happenings," body and face painting, music, jugglers, and more.

This little gem of a nature center in nearby Orange County hosts a special exhibit this year on mastodons, a cool subject for many kids. And at 2:30pm, young visitors can join a Museum Educator to "Meet the (live) Animal" of the week. Exhibit runs each weekend through December.

Jill will help artists of all ages design seasonal or holiday-themed crafts. Her selection includes jewelry boxes, candy dishes, mugs, plates, picture frames, vases, and more. Pieces can be taken home that day or left for glazing. Fee includes instruction. Pre-registration is requested. Toddler workshops are held each Monday and Tuesday. All-ages workshops are held each Friday.

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NYMetroParents is the parenting division of Davler Media Group and encompasses 9 regional print magazines within the greater NY metro region as well as the website (nymetroparents.com). Following the success of the first NYC parenting resource book, "Big Apple Baby," BIG APPLE PARENT was launched in 1985; it is now the largest publisher of regional parenting content in the United States.

Share your story in the Caring Kids Awards program and be recognized for the giving back that you do. This program celebrates the many good deeds that families do together to teach their children the importance of helping others. 8 families will be recognized win given $500 as a special thank you. Caring Kids Awards.